Sad-iron



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

WILLIAM MCCLURE, F PEEBLES, PENNSYLVANIA.

SAD-IRON.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,804, dated May 14, 1861.

To all 'whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM MCCLURE, of Peebles township, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sad-lronsg and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l, represents a fiat iron or sad iron, with my improvement. Fig. 2, represents the shoe detached from the flat iron.

In each of the figures the same letters are used to denote similar parts.

My improvement consists in the use of a shoe or metallic covering, fitting on to the bottom of the iron and so arranged with springs or other means of attachment as to be easily attached to the iron, or detached therefrom at pleasure.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvement,I will proceed to describe it more fully.

The object of my invention is to `furnish a means of having a perfectly smooth and highly polished surface on the bottom of the iron, which shall be separable at pleasure from the iron itself, and which can be more readily kept in order, than can the irons themselves, being detached when the iron is placed on the lire to heat, or is not in use.

Not only is my invention an advantage in the manufacture of flat irons, as it obviates the necessity of putting a high polish upon them, and therefore allows them to be made of an inferior quality of metal, but in many respects, is a great advantage in the use of the smoothing iron. Flat irons of ordinary construction, are apt to get rusty between the times when they are used, and then must be carefully cleaned with wax; they are also liable to become smoked or dirty when placed upon an open lire to heat, so that in using them, great care is required, lest the clothes be soiled by Contact with the iron. These annoyances are removed by the use of my invention, as the movable covering or shoe, is to be kept on the ironing table, while the iron is being heated, and need never be exposed to the actionof the fire, but may readily be kept clean and in good order.

Another annoyance in the use of flat irons is remedied by the use of my improvement. I refer to the accidental burning of the clothes by the use of irons heated too highly, Y

covered before any damage ensues, than Y when the naked iron is used.

The saving of time and trouble in cleaning the irons after each reheating, which is effected by the use of my improvement, is very considerable, and makes it greatly superior in this respect, as well as in its greater cheapness, to the box iron, while it possesses all the advantages of cleanliness and constant readiness for use, which are found in the latter, while in cheapness and simplicity it is fully equal to the ordinary sad iron.

In the drawing a is the flat iron which may be of any ordinary shape, but need not have a polished surface onlits `under side.

b is a shoe of thin metal, as iron, brass, steel, or other suitable substance, which is highly polished and smooth on its surface, and it is shaped to fit the bottom of the fiat iron, with its edges turned up, so as to form a flange c o-r rim all around, so that when the iron is placed in the shoe, it will fit snugly therein.

Z cl are two lugs having a slight spring inward; they are attached to the sides or flange of the shoe, so that when the iron is placed in the shoe, the spring lugs cl d press against the sides of the iron, sufliciently to keep the shoe in place on the iron, and preventit being detached by the ordinary use in ironing.

Vhen the iron becomes too cold, it is easily removed from the shoe and placed on the fire, while a hotiron takes its place in the shoe, which will retain its heat during the change, sufficiently to cause no delay in using the iron.

Where a set of irons are all of one size a single shoe will suffice for them all., which with a little care, may be kept for years in excellent order, in a highly polished condi tion; as -it is not exposed to the fire, and can `loe kept when in use, with more care than is usually bestowed on flat irons; while the irons themselves, even if old, rough and lugs or other' mode of attachment, as to be 10 rusty, will answer for the purpose of the easily attached to the iron or removed theremost highly polished articles. from at pleasure.

I-Iavng thus described my improvement, In testimonywhereof, I, the said VILLIAM what I claim as my invention, and desire to MCCLURE, have hereunto set my hand. secure by Letters Patent7 is, Y WM. MCCLURE.

The use of a shoe constructed substanlVitnesses: tially as described, so as to ft on the bottom DANL. EUWER,

of sad irons, and so arranged with spring Grao. K. FLOWER. 

